Title: Always Trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6) Meta: So, how much of your life are you to be acknowledging the Lord in? The verse says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him." That covers quite a bit of territory doesn't it? All your ways. It is anything you are doing, anything you are involved in; really any detail that you care about in your life. God says, "I want to be Lord of that. I want to be brought into the scheme there. I care about that thing, I want you to pray about that. I want you to think about what I say in My Word about that matter." - Nathan Rages Tags: trusting,Lord,Faith,wedding sermon,Proverbs 3:5-7 1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:02,846 Praise the Lord! 2 00:00:02,846 --> 00:00:05,319 All for Christ! 3 00:00:05,319 --> 00:00:08,285 What a theme! 4 00:00:08,285 --> 00:00:12,082 Well, Evan and Charity, 5 00:00:12,082 --> 00:00:17,075 you're about to come over here 6 00:00:17,075 --> 00:00:20,478 and recite your wedding vows. 7 00:00:20,478 --> 00:00:25,547 The biggest, broadest, toughest promises 8 00:00:25,547 --> 00:00:30,781 that any people make to other people. 9 00:00:30,781 --> 00:00:33,487 And you do that with the knowledge 10 00:00:33,487 --> 00:00:37,459 that many, if not the majority of those 11 00:00:37,459 --> 00:00:39,639 who take such vows 12 00:00:39,639 --> 00:00:45,373 fail miserably to keep them. 13 00:00:45,373 --> 00:00:48,496 So my question for you guys 14 00:00:48,496 --> 00:00:50,667 is how are you going to do this? 15 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:52,415 What is your hope? 16 00:00:52,415 --> 00:00:55,150 What is your confidence of actually 17 00:00:55,150 --> 00:00:58,152 living out the gigantic things 18 00:00:58,152 --> 00:01:01,450 you're about to say with your mouths? 19 00:01:01,450 --> 00:01:02,402 What's your trust? 20 00:01:02,402 --> 00:01:05,018 Is your trust in yourself, Evan? 21 00:01:05,018 --> 00:01:06,580 Are you just going to try harder 22 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:08,359 than all those other people 23 00:01:08,359 --> 00:01:11,247 to keep these things? 24 00:01:11,247 --> 00:01:14,645 Is your trust in that other person? 25 00:01:14,645 --> 00:01:15,507 Are you thinking, 26 00:01:15,507 --> 00:01:18,575 well, Charity's really nice 27 00:01:18,575 --> 00:01:19,965 and really pretty, 28 00:01:19,965 --> 00:01:21,447 and I love her a whole lot. 29 00:01:21,447 --> 00:01:22,792 She'll probably never make 30 00:01:22,792 --> 00:01:24,448 very many mistakes, 31 00:01:24,448 --> 00:01:28,745 and we'll have a pretty easy time of things. 32 00:01:28,745 --> 00:01:30,053 And you immediately see 33 00:01:30,053 --> 00:01:32,673 if your only confidence is in yourself 34 00:01:32,673 --> 00:01:35,645 and in this other person, 35 00:01:35,645 --> 00:01:40,094 oh, you need a lot more than that. 36 00:01:40,094 --> 00:01:43,373 And so that's what the exhortation is 37 00:01:43,373 --> 00:01:46,770 for you two today on your wedding day 38 00:01:46,770 --> 00:01:52,542 and for the entirety of your marriage. 39 00:01:52,542 --> 00:01:57,720 Proverbs 3:5-6 40 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,697 It says, "Trust in the Lord." 41 00:02:01,697 --> 00:02:05,669 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 42 00:02:05,669 --> 00:02:09,530 and do not lean on your own understanding. 43 00:02:09,530 --> 00:02:11,054 In all your ways, 44 00:02:11,054 --> 00:02:13,640 acknowledge Him, 45 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:18,653 and He will make your paths straight." 46 00:02:18,653 --> 00:02:20,960 That's how a Christian 47 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,394 can make these massive wedding vows, right? 48 00:02:24,394 --> 00:02:27,491 It's because your trust is not in yourself. 49 00:02:27,491 --> 00:02:28,731 It is in the Lord. 50 00:02:28,731 --> 00:02:30,658 And I know that's true of you. 51 00:02:30,658 --> 00:02:33,156 And I know it's your desire 52 00:02:33,156 --> 00:02:35,464 for the rest of your lives together 53 00:02:35,464 --> 00:02:38,377 to be lives of trusting in the Lord. 54 00:02:38,377 --> 00:02:40,644 And so, that's what I want to talk about today. 55 00:02:40,644 --> 00:02:43,413 This life of trust. 56 00:02:43,413 --> 00:02:46,147 Trusting in Him. 57 00:02:46,147 --> 00:02:49,258 Five aspects of the life of trust 58 00:02:49,258 --> 00:02:52,546 we see in these very familiar verses 59 00:02:52,546 --> 00:02:54,168 I just read. 60 00:02:54,168 --> 00:03:00,007 The first is that this trust is in God Himself. 61 00:03:00,007 --> 00:03:03,030 Trust in the Lord, right? 62 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:04,587 It's not trusting in your own 63 00:03:04,587 --> 00:03:06,496 feelings of faith. 64 00:03:06,496 --> 00:03:08,897 It's trusting in Him. 65 00:03:08,897 --> 00:03:12,338 It's trusting in the God Who created 66 00:03:12,338 --> 00:03:13,471 the universe. 67 00:03:13,471 --> 00:03:16,586 It's trusting the God Who revealed Himself 68 00:03:16,586 --> 00:03:18,280 in the Bible. 69 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:19,596 It's trusting in the God 70 00:03:19,596 --> 00:03:21,793 Who took on human flesh 71 00:03:21,793 --> 00:03:24,362 and entered into our world. 72 00:03:24,362 --> 00:03:28,780 Trusting in the God Who by the Holy Spirit 73 00:03:28,780 --> 00:03:32,313 lives in your heart if you are a Christian. 74 00:03:32,313 --> 00:03:33,483 Trusting in God. 75 00:03:33,483 --> 00:03:35,791 Trusting in God's character. 76 00:03:35,791 --> 00:03:37,631 Trusting in God's Word. 77 00:03:37,631 --> 00:03:40,136 Trusting in God's promises. 78 00:03:40,136 --> 00:03:43,233 Trusting that God will do - 79 00:03:43,233 --> 00:03:45,417 not just do things for other people - 80 00:03:45,417 --> 00:03:48,903 but do great and mighty things for you 81 00:03:48,903 --> 00:03:50,988 as you trust in Him. 82 00:03:50,988 --> 00:03:53,087 It's a trust in God. 83 00:03:53,087 --> 00:03:54,656 But, let's be specific, 84 00:03:54,656 --> 00:03:55,904 for the Christian, 85 00:03:55,904 --> 00:03:57,841 our trust is not just in God 86 00:03:57,841 --> 00:03:59,564 in a generic way. 87 00:03:59,564 --> 00:04:02,416 It centers specifically 88 00:04:02,416 --> 00:04:06,238 in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ 89 00:04:06,238 --> 00:04:10,344 and in the redeeming work of our Savior, right? 90 00:04:10,344 --> 00:04:14,010 It all begins there with the Gospel 91 00:04:14,010 --> 00:04:15,393 of Jesus Christ. 92 00:04:15,393 --> 00:04:17,885 That the Son of God 93 00:04:17,885 --> 00:04:20,969 took on our humanity. 94 00:04:20,969 --> 00:04:23,023 He entered into the human race. 95 00:04:23,023 --> 00:04:25,201 He lived in this world 96 00:04:25,201 --> 00:04:28,264 a perfectly righteous life, 97 00:04:28,264 --> 00:04:30,733 and then at last, He laid down that life 98 00:04:30,733 --> 00:04:35,164 as a spotless sacrifice on Calvary's cross. 99 00:04:35,164 --> 00:04:36,912 That He died there 100 00:04:36,912 --> 00:04:39,388 to pay the sin debt 101 00:04:39,388 --> 00:04:42,067 of sinners like us, 102 00:04:42,067 --> 00:04:45,056 and then He arose on the third day 103 00:04:45,056 --> 00:04:46,716 in power and victory 104 00:04:46,716 --> 00:04:51,569 demonstrating that it was all effectual. 105 00:04:51,569 --> 00:04:53,784 Our faith is in God. 106 00:04:53,784 --> 00:04:55,311 Our faith is in His Son, 107 00:04:55,311 --> 00:04:57,149 the Lord Jesus Christ. 108 00:04:57,149 --> 00:05:01,805 And we must respond to that story, 109 00:05:01,805 --> 00:05:02,924 that message, 110 00:05:02,924 --> 00:05:04,889 that reality of the Gospel 111 00:05:04,889 --> 00:05:07,398 by a personal trust in Him. 112 00:05:07,398 --> 00:05:10,275 Turning from, repenting from 113 00:05:10,275 --> 00:05:12,910 our love of sin; 114 00:05:12,910 --> 00:05:15,635 our love of ourselves; 115 00:05:15,635 --> 00:05:17,878 our love of our self-righteousness - 116 00:05:17,878 --> 00:05:20,644 thinking we're good enough on our own - 117 00:05:20,644 --> 00:05:24,006 and putting our trust completely 118 00:05:24,006 --> 00:05:27,215 in the Lord Jesus Christ - 119 00:05:27,215 --> 00:05:29,541 His blood, His righteousness. 120 00:05:29,541 --> 00:05:31,905 My only hope and plea. 121 00:05:31,905 --> 00:05:35,440 And thereby our sins can be forgiven. 122 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,800 We're made white, clean as snow. 123 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,956 And we enter in to a personal relationship 124 00:05:42,956 --> 00:05:45,365 with the living God in this life 125 00:05:45,365 --> 00:05:49,042 and which continues on for all eternity. 126 00:05:49,042 --> 00:05:51,041 Now, Evan and Charity, 127 00:05:51,041 --> 00:05:53,936 I know you trust in Jesus Christ. 128 00:05:53,936 --> 00:05:56,394 I know you've put your confidence in God. 129 00:05:56,394 --> 00:05:57,813 I know you love Him. 130 00:05:57,813 --> 00:06:00,072 I know you glory in Him. 131 00:06:00,072 --> 00:06:01,790 I know you wanted your wedding 132 00:06:01,790 --> 00:06:05,513 to be filled with praise to Him. 133 00:06:05,513 --> 00:06:07,398 I know you know these things, 134 00:06:07,398 --> 00:06:08,945 but I'm reminding you today, 135 00:06:08,945 --> 00:06:11,766 the whole rest of your life; 136 00:06:11,766 --> 00:06:13,764 the whole rest of the Christian life 137 00:06:13,764 --> 00:06:16,646 is called a life of faith. 138 00:06:16,646 --> 00:06:19,922 It's called a fight of faith actually. 139 00:06:19,922 --> 00:06:25,307 And there's what you enter in to. 140 00:06:25,307 --> 00:06:30,538 You must go right on trusting in the Lord. 141 00:06:30,538 --> 00:06:32,454 Go right on trusting 142 00:06:32,454 --> 00:06:35,982 that great is His faithfulness. 143 00:06:35,982 --> 00:06:38,744 Trusting that these exceeding 144 00:06:38,744 --> 00:06:42,945 great and precious promises are for you. 145 00:06:42,945 --> 00:06:45,963 Because He's a God Who cannot lie. 146 00:06:45,963 --> 00:06:47,559 He'll keep His Word. 147 00:06:47,559 --> 00:06:53,083 Trusting that He will never leave you or forsake you. 148 00:06:53,083 --> 00:06:57,617 Trusting that He will satisfy your years 149 00:06:57,617 --> 00:06:59,257 with good things. 150 00:06:59,257 --> 00:07:00,711 Isn't that a good verse? 151 00:07:00,711 --> 00:07:03,655 Trusting that He will actually 152 00:07:03,655 --> 00:07:08,131 work all things together for your good 153 00:07:08,131 --> 00:07:09,597 as believers. 154 00:07:09,597 --> 00:07:14,300 Trusting that if He didn't spare His own Son; 155 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:16,293 if He gave His Son for you, 156 00:07:16,293 --> 00:07:18,636 how will He not also with Him 157 00:07:18,636 --> 00:07:22,550 freely give you all things? 158 00:07:22,550 --> 00:07:25,586 Trust is in the Lord. That's the first thing. 159 00:07:25,586 --> 00:07:28,111 Second thing is that this life of trust 160 00:07:28,111 --> 00:07:33,244 requires a whole-hearted commitment. 161 00:07:33,244 --> 00:07:35,243 A whole-hearted commitment. 162 00:07:35,243 --> 00:07:36,036 The verse says, 163 00:07:36,036 --> 00:07:40,040 trust in the Lord with all your heart. 164 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,516 There's lots of people with 165 00:07:42,516 --> 00:07:45,758 a sort-of trust in the Lord. 166 00:07:45,758 --> 00:07:48,886 Oh, they'll try Jesus for a little while. 167 00:07:48,886 --> 00:07:52,887 And then, they'll get tired of that. 168 00:07:52,887 --> 00:07:54,428 There's a lot of people that 169 00:07:54,428 --> 00:07:57,412 have kind of a halfway faith in Jesus 170 00:07:57,412 --> 00:07:59,855 that's all just in their heads. 171 00:07:59,855 --> 00:08:02,477 It's just kind of a mental game. 172 00:08:02,477 --> 00:08:04,621 They'll agree to certain facts 173 00:08:04,621 --> 00:08:05,988 about the Gospel. 174 00:08:05,988 --> 00:08:08,177 They'll say, well, I agree with those facts. 175 00:08:08,177 --> 00:08:10,394 But they've never trusted in the Lord. 176 00:08:10,394 --> 00:08:12,586 They've never entrusted themselves. 177 00:08:12,586 --> 00:08:14,702 They've never surrendered themselves. 178 00:08:14,702 --> 00:08:20,361 They've never given themselves to Him. 179 00:08:20,361 --> 00:08:21,414 The Bible's clear: 180 00:08:21,414 --> 00:08:25,506 a halfway sort of faith is worthless. 181 00:08:25,506 --> 00:08:30,657 God says trust in Me with your whole heart. 182 00:08:30,657 --> 00:08:32,314 God demands it. 183 00:08:32,314 --> 00:08:35,665 God deserves a whole-hearted, 184 00:08:35,665 --> 00:08:39,048 all the way, all out commitment 185 00:08:39,048 --> 00:08:40,561 of your whole person. 186 00:08:40,561 --> 00:08:41,667 All that you are; 187 00:08:41,667 --> 00:08:42,631 all that you have; 188 00:08:42,631 --> 00:08:45,782 all that you ever will be - 189 00:08:45,782 --> 00:08:48,192 He's worthy of that. 190 00:08:48,192 --> 00:08:51,443 You've got to go all in with God. 191 00:08:51,443 --> 00:08:54,261 There's no way to hedge this deal. 192 00:08:54,261 --> 00:08:57,720 There's no way to protect yourself 193 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:02,324 from the riskiness of genuine faith. 194 00:09:02,324 --> 00:09:04,921 There's no way to avoid 195 00:09:04,921 --> 00:09:07,674 being in that vulnerable spot 196 00:09:07,674 --> 00:09:12,059 where you know that if God fails me now, 197 00:09:12,059 --> 00:09:13,847 if God's promises suddenly 198 00:09:13,847 --> 00:09:16,310 stop working now, 199 00:09:16,310 --> 00:09:17,787 I'm in gigantic trouble. 200 00:09:17,787 --> 00:09:21,080 I'm of all men most to be pitied, in fact. 201 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,170 There's no way to avoid being in that spot. 202 00:09:24,170 --> 00:09:26,783 But I'll tell you this, 203 00:09:26,783 --> 00:09:29,799 that spot is also the place 204 00:09:29,799 --> 00:09:32,372 of greatest safety. 205 00:09:32,372 --> 00:09:35,452 And it's the place of greatest joy, isn't it? 206 00:09:35,452 --> 00:09:36,806 Because it's in that spot 207 00:09:36,806 --> 00:09:43,909 where you see the glory of God. 208 00:09:43,909 --> 00:09:46,277 Are you trusting the Lord 209 00:09:46,277 --> 00:09:47,918 with a whole heart? 210 00:09:47,918 --> 00:09:48,817 No caveats. 211 00:09:48,817 --> 00:09:49,906 No reservations. 212 00:09:49,906 --> 00:09:54,837 No shady, shadowy places. 213 00:09:54,837 --> 00:09:56,214 Then praise God. 214 00:09:56,214 --> 00:09:57,492 On to number 3. 215 00:09:57,492 --> 00:09:59,229 This life of trust will kill 216 00:09:59,229 --> 00:10:01,361 your self-reliance. 217 00:10:01,361 --> 00:10:03,039 That's the third thing the verse 218 00:10:03,039 --> 00:10:04,087 teaches us. 219 00:10:04,087 --> 00:10:07,036 It will kill your self-reliance. 220 00:10:07,036 --> 00:10:08,439 It says do not lean 221 00:10:08,439 --> 00:10:12,215 on your own understanding. 222 00:10:12,215 --> 00:10:13,624 I mean, this is what makes 223 00:10:13,624 --> 00:10:15,495 the life of faith so difficult 224 00:10:15,495 --> 00:10:16,881 for our flesh, right? 225 00:10:16,881 --> 00:10:18,389 Because we think we know better 226 00:10:18,389 --> 00:10:20,124 than God most of the time. 227 00:10:20,124 --> 00:10:21,981 It's like, well, I agree with God 228 00:10:21,981 --> 00:10:23,688 about some stuff over here. 229 00:10:23,688 --> 00:10:26,023 I agree. That's ok over there. 230 00:10:26,023 --> 00:10:28,538 But I've got this thing over here, 231 00:10:28,538 --> 00:10:31,294 and I know how this ought to work. 232 00:10:31,294 --> 00:10:32,635 I want it to be this way. 233 00:10:32,635 --> 00:10:34,088 I want God to perform the way 234 00:10:34,088 --> 00:10:35,935 I want Him to perform over here 235 00:10:35,935 --> 00:10:37,782 on this thing. 236 00:10:37,782 --> 00:10:41,512 That's trusting in your own understanding. 237 00:10:41,512 --> 00:10:43,913 The verse says that's not going to work. 238 00:10:43,913 --> 00:10:47,180 Do not lean on your own understanding. 239 00:10:47,180 --> 00:10:50,039 You see, a lifetime of trusting in God, 240 00:10:50,039 --> 00:10:51,238 what it does is it takes 241 00:10:51,238 --> 00:10:53,829 all your proud self-reliance 242 00:10:53,829 --> 00:10:56,041 and it crushes it down 243 00:10:56,041 --> 00:10:57,723 and then it grinds it into 244 00:10:57,723 --> 00:11:00,556 a million little pieces 245 00:11:00,556 --> 00:11:04,492 as you learn that you're just a child 246 00:11:04,492 --> 00:11:06,722 before your heavenly Father. 247 00:11:06,722 --> 00:11:08,137 You're just a sheep 248 00:11:08,137 --> 00:11:10,357 trying to follow the Shepherd 249 00:11:10,357 --> 00:11:13,235 from step to step. 250 00:11:13,235 --> 00:11:16,310 As you learn to patiently wait 251 00:11:16,310 --> 00:11:19,397 upon the Lord for His timing. 252 00:11:19,397 --> 00:11:22,086 God's almost never in as much a hurry 253 00:11:22,086 --> 00:11:24,181 as you are about stuff. 254 00:11:24,181 --> 00:11:25,401 You learn that. 255 00:11:25,401 --> 00:11:28,161 You learn to pray like Jesus did. 256 00:11:28,161 --> 00:11:34,129 Not my will, but Your will be done. 257 00:11:34,129 --> 00:11:35,687 And you learn again and again 258 00:11:35,687 --> 00:11:37,492 the truth of Jesus' words: 259 00:11:37,492 --> 00:11:42,349 "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." 260 00:11:42,349 --> 00:11:45,112 I say, this will kill your self-reliance 261 00:11:45,112 --> 00:11:47,761 and the pride that goes with it. 262 00:11:47,761 --> 00:11:50,338 Now a fourth aspect of this life of trust 263 00:11:50,338 --> 00:11:54,073 is that it covers everything. 264 00:11:54,073 --> 00:11:55,448 It covers everything. 265 00:11:55,448 --> 00:11:58,783 It says in all your ways, 266 00:11:58,783 --> 00:12:01,379 acknowledge Him. 267 00:12:01,379 --> 00:12:03,859 In all your ways acknowledge Him. 268 00:12:03,859 --> 00:12:05,890 What does it mean to acknowledge Him? 269 00:12:05,890 --> 00:12:07,445 To acknowledge God? 270 00:12:07,445 --> 00:12:10,177 Well, it means bringing God into the picture 271 00:12:10,177 --> 00:12:12,087 whatever's going on. 272 00:12:12,087 --> 00:12:13,872 Whatever the decision, 273 00:12:13,872 --> 00:12:17,292 whatever the crisis that has erupted, 274 00:12:17,292 --> 00:12:19,054 whatever the opportunity 275 00:12:19,054 --> 00:12:21,111 that has presented itself, 276 00:12:21,111 --> 00:12:22,530 whatever the need, 277 00:12:22,530 --> 00:12:23,734 whatever the problem, 278 00:12:23,734 --> 00:12:24,932 whatever the burden, 279 00:12:24,932 --> 00:12:27,023 you say, what does God say about this? 280 00:12:27,023 --> 00:12:28,951 What does the Bible say? 281 00:12:28,951 --> 00:12:33,153 To bring in what's best for the kingdom here? 282 00:12:33,153 --> 00:12:35,421 What will bring God most glory 283 00:12:35,421 --> 00:12:37,090 in this thing? 284 00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:38,963 That's acknowledging Him. 285 00:12:38,963 --> 00:12:40,790 And of course, it includes the aspect 286 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:42,383 of prayer too. 287 00:12:42,383 --> 00:12:44,495 We don't just think about the situation, 288 00:12:44,495 --> 00:12:47,657 but we take it to the Lord, right? 289 00:12:47,657 --> 00:12:50,969 We're called to cast every anxiety, 290 00:12:50,969 --> 00:12:53,518 every need upon Him. 291 00:12:53,518 --> 00:12:56,436 And not just to pray to Him 292 00:12:56,436 --> 00:12:58,723 about it, but to ask Him to intervene 293 00:12:58,723 --> 00:13:00,330 and change things, 294 00:13:00,330 --> 00:13:02,727 which He's willing to do. 295 00:13:02,727 --> 00:13:04,689 Evan and Charity, you guys can 296 00:13:04,689 --> 00:13:06,544 be doing this for each other. 297 00:13:06,544 --> 00:13:08,418 You can be helping each other, right? 298 00:13:08,418 --> 00:13:10,477 You can be reminding each other, 299 00:13:10,477 --> 00:13:14,138 hey, we need to acknowledge Him in this. 300 00:13:14,138 --> 00:13:16,978 Hey, have we prayed about this problem? 301 00:13:16,978 --> 00:13:18,877 Hey, what does the Bible say? 302 00:13:18,877 --> 00:13:20,946 Hey, maybe we should get some godly counsel 303 00:13:20,946 --> 00:13:25,051 on this deal that's come up. 304 00:13:25,051 --> 00:13:27,366 So how much of your life 305 00:13:27,366 --> 00:13:30,825 are you supposed to be acknowledging God in? 306 00:13:30,825 --> 00:13:31,810 How much? 307 00:13:31,810 --> 00:13:33,495 What does the verse say? 308 00:13:33,495 --> 00:13:36,421 In all your ways acknowledge Him. 309 00:13:36,421 --> 00:13:38,512 That covers quite a bit of territory, 310 00:13:38,512 --> 00:13:39,553 doesn't it? 311 00:13:39,553 --> 00:13:41,350 All your ways. 312 00:13:41,350 --> 00:13:43,670 It's anything you're doing. 313 00:13:43,670 --> 00:13:45,391 Anything you're involved in. 314 00:13:45,391 --> 00:13:48,590 Really any detail that you care about 315 00:13:48,590 --> 00:13:50,277 in your life, 316 00:13:50,277 --> 00:13:53,057 God says, "I want to be Lord of that. 317 00:13:53,057 --> 00:13:55,053 I want to be brought into the scene there. 318 00:13:55,053 --> 00:13:56,806 I care about that thing. 319 00:13:56,806 --> 00:13:58,749 I want you to pray about that. 320 00:13:58,749 --> 00:14:01,937 I want you to think about what I say 321 00:14:01,937 --> 00:14:05,353 in My Word about that matter." 322 00:14:05,353 --> 00:14:12,515 In all your ways acknowledge Him. 323 00:14:12,515 --> 00:14:15,639 Listen, many of the hardest things 324 00:14:15,639 --> 00:14:17,685 and deepest trials you're going to face 325 00:14:17,685 --> 00:14:18,811 as a couple, 326 00:14:18,811 --> 00:14:20,723 I suspect are things you've 327 00:14:20,723 --> 00:14:22,591 not even imagined yet. 328 00:14:22,591 --> 00:14:24,132 Probably things you haven't even 329 00:14:24,132 --> 00:14:26,679 thought about 330 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:30,003 or talked about together. 331 00:14:30,003 --> 00:14:33,131 We don't know what those things are, right? 332 00:14:33,131 --> 00:14:35,454 That song talks about the weary ways 333 00:14:35,454 --> 00:14:37,003 and golden days. 334 00:14:37,003 --> 00:14:40,336 We don't know what the mix will be. 335 00:14:40,336 --> 00:14:42,440 We don't know if it will be 336 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,648 financial problems or job problems 337 00:14:44,648 --> 00:14:46,614 or children problems 338 00:14:46,614 --> 00:14:47,770 or church problems 339 00:14:47,770 --> 00:14:49,126 or ministry problems - 340 00:14:49,126 --> 00:14:51,919 what the problems will be. 341 00:14:51,919 --> 00:14:55,103 But really, the specifics don't matter, right? 342 00:14:55,103 --> 00:14:56,848 Because the same principle applies 343 00:14:56,848 --> 00:14:59,540 to every single one of them. 344 00:14:59,540 --> 00:15:01,738 I've just got to trust God with this. 345 00:15:01,738 --> 00:15:03,750 I can trust God with this thing. 346 00:15:03,750 --> 00:15:06,846 And you know, that's a really basic lesson 347 00:15:06,846 --> 00:15:08,714 but it seems like we have to learn it 348 00:15:08,714 --> 00:15:09,917 a hundred different times 349 00:15:09,917 --> 00:15:10,847 as a Christian. 350 00:15:10,847 --> 00:15:13,404 This simple thought that I can trust God 351 00:15:13,404 --> 00:15:15,874 about this new problem 352 00:15:15,874 --> 00:15:17,921 the same way I've been trusting Him 353 00:15:17,921 --> 00:15:20,117 with twenty old problems over here. 354 00:15:20,117 --> 00:15:21,980 I can trust God with that. 355 00:15:21,980 --> 00:15:26,877 This new thing that's blown up on me. 356 00:15:26,877 --> 00:15:29,659 How foolish to say that 357 00:15:29,659 --> 00:15:32,969 you're trusting God with your eternal soul, 358 00:15:32,969 --> 00:15:34,553 but now, you're not sure you can 359 00:15:34,553 --> 00:15:36,563 trust Him for a job, 360 00:15:36,563 --> 00:15:38,138 or for your kid's dental work, 361 00:15:38,138 --> 00:15:42,026 or for some crisis in the church, right? 362 00:15:42,026 --> 00:15:44,627 We can trust the Lord with everything. 363 00:15:44,627 --> 00:15:48,336 In all your ways acknowledge Him. 364 00:15:48,336 --> 00:15:51,219 And hasn't He proven Himself 365 00:15:51,219 --> 00:15:52,915 faithful over and over? 366 00:15:52,915 --> 00:15:54,571 I bet you guys in your own 367 00:15:54,571 --> 00:15:55,723 Christian lives, 368 00:15:55,723 --> 00:15:59,028 you've seen hundreds of answers to prayer 369 00:15:59,028 --> 00:16:00,061 from the Lord. 370 00:16:00,061 --> 00:16:01,923 Can't you trust Him for more hundreds, 371 00:16:01,923 --> 00:16:03,774 more thousands in the future? 372 00:16:03,774 --> 00:16:06,379 In all your ways acknowledge Him. 373 00:16:06,379 --> 00:16:08,722 And then fifth and the last 374 00:16:08,722 --> 00:16:10,087 thing to point out 375 00:16:10,087 --> 00:16:13,160 is that this life of trust 376 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,360 is rewarded. 377 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:16,966 It will be rewarded. 378 00:16:16,966 --> 00:16:18,003 The verse says, 379 00:16:18,003 --> 00:16:21,755 He will make your paths straight. 380 00:16:21,755 --> 00:16:23,381 He'll make your paths straight. 381 00:16:23,381 --> 00:16:25,654 It's a specific promise 382 00:16:25,654 --> 00:16:27,847 for those who will trust the Lord 383 00:16:27,847 --> 00:16:29,130 with everything. 384 00:16:29,130 --> 00:16:32,407 Really let God lead in their lives. 385 00:16:32,407 --> 00:16:35,174 Commit it all to Him continually. 386 00:16:35,174 --> 00:16:36,744 The promise is He'll make 387 00:16:36,744 --> 00:16:39,058 your paths straight. 388 00:16:39,058 --> 00:16:40,152 In other words, 389 00:16:40,152 --> 00:16:41,762 God's not going to run you around 390 00:16:41,762 --> 00:16:44,916 in circles of futility. 391 00:16:44,916 --> 00:16:47,768 But God will lead you providentially 392 00:16:47,768 --> 00:16:51,039 in purposeful, wise ways 393 00:16:51,039 --> 00:16:52,999 that will be good for you 394 00:16:52,999 --> 00:16:55,465 and glorifying to Him. 395 00:16:55,465 --> 00:16:58,207 Straight paths for your life. 396 00:16:58,207 --> 00:17:00,684 Now, don't misunderstand here. 397 00:17:00,684 --> 00:17:03,201 A straight path is not necessarily 398 00:17:03,201 --> 00:17:04,697 an easy path. 399 00:17:04,697 --> 00:17:07,409 We just talked about that a minute ago. 400 00:17:07,409 --> 00:17:09,236 There might be hard things 401 00:17:09,236 --> 00:17:10,251 on the path, 402 00:17:10,251 --> 00:17:12,162 but in all these hard things, 403 00:17:12,162 --> 00:17:16,148 God is bringing about good results for you. 404 00:17:16,148 --> 00:17:17,270 There is a purpose. 405 00:17:17,270 --> 00:17:20,268 There's wisdom behind it. 406 00:17:20,268 --> 00:17:21,750 Now think of this. 407 00:17:21,750 --> 00:17:23,421 Evan and Charity, think of this. 408 00:17:23,421 --> 00:17:27,027 On this date five years from now, 409 00:17:27,027 --> 00:17:29,018 ten years from now, 410 00:17:29,018 --> 00:17:30,733 twenty years from now, 411 00:17:30,733 --> 00:17:31,902 you guys are going to be 412 00:17:31,902 --> 00:17:33,394 together somewhere if the Lord 413 00:17:33,394 --> 00:17:34,874 preserves your life. 414 00:17:34,874 --> 00:17:37,949 You'll be together in some nice place 415 00:17:37,949 --> 00:17:39,955 holding hands 416 00:17:39,955 --> 00:17:41,541 and you'll be thinking back 417 00:17:41,541 --> 00:17:44,536 over however many years you've been married, 418 00:17:44,536 --> 00:17:47,666 and you'll be able to see this very thing. 419 00:17:47,666 --> 00:17:49,709 You'll be able to see how the Lord 420 00:17:49,709 --> 00:17:51,678 has made your paths straight. 421 00:17:51,678 --> 00:17:54,854 You'll be able to remind yourselves 422 00:17:54,854 --> 00:17:57,455 of how all these little details 423 00:17:57,455 --> 00:18:00,289 of providence have fitted together 424 00:18:00,289 --> 00:18:02,799 to bring you along step by step 425 00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:04,580 to the point that you're at now. 426 00:18:04,580 --> 00:18:06,286 Now, while the things are happening 427 00:18:06,286 --> 00:18:07,117 in real time, 428 00:18:07,117 --> 00:18:08,616 we usually don't see it. 429 00:18:08,616 --> 00:18:10,511 But we can look back 430 00:18:10,511 --> 00:18:12,676 and we can see the hand of God 431 00:18:12,676 --> 00:18:13,582 in our lives. 432 00:18:13,582 --> 00:18:15,880 He's making our paths straight. 433 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,372 He's working these things out 434 00:18:18,372 --> 00:18:22,350 in His wise, wise providence. 435 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:24,722 The book of Hebrews reminds us 436 00:18:24,722 --> 00:18:28,029 that this has already been the experience 437 00:18:28,029 --> 00:18:31,498 of a great cloud of witnesses, right? 438 00:18:31,498 --> 00:18:33,936 All these saints that have gone on 439 00:18:33,936 --> 00:18:34,732 before us - 440 00:18:34,732 --> 00:18:36,701 they've found this to be true. 441 00:18:36,701 --> 00:18:39,409 They've found God to be faithful 442 00:18:39,409 --> 00:18:41,298 again and again and again. 443 00:18:41,298 --> 00:18:44,389 And they testify to us of these things. 444 00:18:44,389 --> 00:18:46,543 God has straightened my path 445 00:18:46,543 --> 00:18:50,313 as I've trusted in Him. 446 00:18:50,313 --> 00:18:52,061 I think of what Hebrews says 447 00:18:52,061 --> 00:18:54,887 in chapter 13:7 448 00:18:54,887 --> 00:18:56,798 and I'll leave you with this thought. 449 00:18:56,798 --> 00:18:58,763 Hebrews 13:7 450 00:18:58,763 --> 00:19:01,531 "Let's remember your leaders, 451 00:19:01,531 --> 00:19:03,482 those who spoke to you 452 00:19:03,482 --> 00:19:05,268 the Word of God." 453 00:19:05,268 --> 00:19:07,219 And so he's saying think of 454 00:19:07,219 --> 00:19:08,543 those older saints. 455 00:19:08,543 --> 00:19:11,628 Think of those more mature saints 456 00:19:11,628 --> 00:19:15,082 that had a big effect on your life. 457 00:19:15,082 --> 00:19:17,080 Think about them. 458 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,432 And then it goes on, 459 00:19:19,432 --> 00:19:21,014 "consider the outcome 460 00:19:21,014 --> 00:19:23,192 of their way of life." 461 00:19:23,192 --> 00:19:26,484 Think about how did their life turn out? 462 00:19:26,484 --> 00:19:29,680 These spiritual leaders in my life. 463 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,426 How did their life go? 464 00:19:31,426 --> 00:19:33,882 Was the Lord faithful to them? 465 00:19:33,882 --> 00:19:37,511 Did He keep His promises in their life? 466 00:19:37,511 --> 00:19:40,232 Did He lead them in faithful paths? 467 00:19:40,232 --> 00:19:41,587 And in the end of the verse, 468 00:19:41,587 --> 00:19:45,284 it says and imitate their faith. 469 00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:46,589 They trusted God. 470 00:19:46,589 --> 00:19:48,065 God was faithful. 471 00:19:48,065 --> 00:19:50,544 Now you trust God the same way. 472 00:19:50,544 --> 00:19:52,137 That's what the verse is saying. 473 00:19:52,137 --> 00:19:54,813 Evan, oh, that verse always 474 00:19:54,813 --> 00:19:57,795 makes me think of your dad. 475 00:19:57,795 --> 00:20:01,502 He was that leader in my life. 476 00:20:01,502 --> 00:20:05,191 What was the outcome of your dad's 477 00:20:05,191 --> 00:20:06,845 sojourn on earth? 478 00:20:06,845 --> 00:20:08,451 Couldn't we say that God led him 479 00:20:08,451 --> 00:20:10,892 in straight paths? 480 00:20:10,892 --> 00:20:14,533 A straight path of great fruitfulness. 481 00:20:14,533 --> 00:20:20,176 And then straight home to glory. 482 00:20:20,176 --> 00:20:22,890 Bob trusted God, didn't he? 483 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:27,450 Again and again and again... 484 00:20:27,450 --> 00:20:28,689 He trusted God, 485 00:20:28,689 --> 00:20:31,449 and each time he found the Lord 486 00:20:31,449 --> 00:20:33,604 to be faithful. 487 00:20:33,604 --> 00:20:38,027 Faithful. Faithful to the end. 488 00:20:38,027 --> 00:20:39,640 But the verse, I remind you, 489 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:44,581 tells us not to honor the memory of the man, 490 00:20:44,581 --> 00:20:48,223 but to imitate the faith of the man. 491 00:20:48,223 --> 00:20:54,458 It says imitate their faith. 492 00:20:54,458 --> 00:20:56,045 May God help us. 493 00:20:56,045 --> 00:20:57,772 Proverbs 3:5-6 494 00:20:57,772 --> 00:21:01,914 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 495 00:21:01,914 --> 00:21:05,808 Do not lean on your own understanding. 496 00:21:05,808 --> 00:21:09,920 In all your ways acknowledge Him, 497 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,761 and He will make your paths straight. 498 00:21:13,761 --> 00:21:16,660 Amen.